Tag: Andrew

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Customizing Your Life

Andrew starts his indoor soccer season tomorrow, and has outgrown his indoor soccer shoes.  A few days ago I told him about the Adidas web site and how you can customize your own shoe on the site and then order it.  So this morning when we mentioned that tonight we would have to run out and get him a new soccer ‘boot’ he responded with “Can I customize my own?”.

And here is is!

SWEET!

It’s so amazing how we have come to a point in our society where we can mass produce customization. We always want to be able to choose the color, or add a little personalization or an initial or something to make it different. As always this reminds me of a bible story! And today its Mary and Martha – the two sister who made their own choices

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10 (New International Version, ©2010)

We have choices, or life customizations, to make all day know. Customize in a way that you choose what is better – what will not be taken away!

Oh, and just so you know, even though Andrew would be the BMOC with those shoes, he will not be allowed to make the choice to order them!

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Go and Do Likewise

Last night on the way home, I asked Andrew what he studied in his “Sunday School” classes.  He replied they had a skit about the good Samaritan.  I then questioned him about his part, was he the guy that beat up that poor man.  He said, no I was the Samaritian, and his little 5 year old friend Sammy was the guy who beat him up. I think he did have a few bruises last night!

So, this morning, I decided to take a peek at that story again in Luke.  It’s quite a simple story, and one that most of you know.  In response to the question “who is my neighbor?”, Jesus tells a story of a man who is beat up, left for dead, past by and finally aided by a man who had no business doing it, for several reasons.

The part that always gets me about this story, beside that fact that the Samaritan had to overcome such prejudice to provide assistance, is Jesus’ last statement

37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke  10:37

Go and do likewise.  Go and do.  That’s a command.  This is more then just a story for elementary children to act out.  It’s a life lesson that we should be “acting out”  everyday.

Today, go and do!  Show Mercy, Love you neighbor, and make a difference!

Go and Do Likewise!

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How He Loves

Since I will be missing a few mornings with Andrew this week, I decided to sit down and eat a bowl of Trix cereal with him this morning.  Yes, Trix are for kids – what does that tell you?  Anyway, Andrew, usually a morning person, was a little grumpy this Monday morning, and really found my company to be more of a nuisance then a pleasure. (watch your thought there – especially Mrs Patty Z!)

But really, I was looking at him in his grumpy state and thinking about me, who was willing to do anything, talk about anything, and listen to anything – just generally wanting to share time with him. And as I watched his overall rejection of the idea, I could not miss the parallel to our larger lives staring at me.

It’s a Monday morning – the time when reluctantly we get back to the “work-a-day world”.  Usually we are so caught up in ourselves that we  very easily reject the goodness that is sitting at the breakfast table with us.

So today, take a moment to glance at the sun rise, notice the mountains off in the distance, feel the cool of the breeze on your skin, hear the rustle of the wind in the trees and remember that the Creator of all of this loves you more then any bit of the creation.

Of course, that reminds me of a song, one that  I have been listening to a lot this weekend, How He Loves, in which the second stanza says this:

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

Remember His Love for you today, remember he is there for you. Let that impact your day as you impact those you touch!

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Magic of Music

Tonight my youngest Andrew starts guitar lessons.  He has wanted to learn to play the guitar for years, and tonight he will get the chance.  Yesterday he was attempting to tune his guitar in anticipation of the evening’s activities.  Since the rest of the family was otherwise occupied, he was calling on my services to help him tune it up.  There’s one small problem there – I am the one that has the least amount of musicality in the family.  Lets just say that on Karaoke night at family functions, well the volume is turned up on the track, and in Rock Band competitions, I do not get the microphone.

And its funny that it’s that way, because I find myself so driven to sing praise, and so inspired by lyrics and so interesting in having music around me.  I find that the power of music to keep me moving in the right direction is really amazing.

And so, last night, there I was again at a school concert!  This time, the BBS Chorus, with which my sister-in-law, Lori,  does an outstanding job in teaching and leading each year. (But that’s a lesson for another day – one of giving your all to bring the best out of others).  Anyway, they finished last night with In Christ Alone.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Its such a well written song, and was presented in a very special way last night.  As you can tell the music sticks with me, and it strengthens me.  I hope that if you know this song it will become an ear worm for you today and provide you with a little motivation to tackle a Monday with passion and power!  In Christ we are free, and we have a freedom that is absolutely amazing to comprehend.  We are free, we are safe.

Sing it today, and if you see Andrew, give him a little extra encouragement – maybe one day he will impact people with his music!

11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalm 32:11 (New International Version)

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33:1 (New International Version)

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Pending Setup

Well, that’s the state of my March Fourth Project!   In order to get my little project complete from yesterday I needed to set up a database.  Usually the GoDaddy application installation happens in like twenty minutes.  But I guess they were out last night making another Go Daddy girl commercial, because my database install did not go anywhere, and my project was once again cast back to the procrastination pile!

The funny thing is that is how my day started as well.  I just could not get started this am.  Hitting the snooze alarm, waiting as long as I could to do anything I needed to this morning – its like my brain was Pending Setup.  So after asking Andrew his spelling words for his test today ( its Friday you know – that means Spelling Tests),  I ask him to recite his memory verse one more time.  (He also has to memorize a verse of the bible each week that he recites on Friday. )  He spat it out:

33Whatyou should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. (Matt 6:33 ERV)

And then it hit me.  That was what I need to complete the setup and get this day going.  Forget about the mundane stuff that is sure to happen today, just focus on God’s Kingdom and what he wants you to do.  That’s motivating me today – I hope it helps you as well.  Enjoy the Day!  It is Friday, and Spring is in the air!